The End Is Near

What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear or read the word apocalypse?  

I had assumed that everyone would say for "end" until my Catholic School educated teenager proved me wrong (once again) by responding; Zombies."   I added the picture to lead you to me desired response. (and because Homer makes me smile.)

Apocalypse comes from the Greek meaning “an uncovering.”  A more useful translation might be “to reveal” as this shows the connection between the apocalypse and the end times described in the Book of Revelation.

Next week begins the part of the liturgical year known as the last Sundays in ordinary time.  The reading for these Sundays focus on themes that relate to Christ's return at the end of time.

I think of these three Sundays as the left side of a hinge which are connected to the right side of the hinge i. e. Advent (the first Sundays of the new church year.)  The hinge itself is the Sunday in between the two:  The Solemnity of Christ the King.  (The hinge itself.) 

While the entire 8 week period may be spread across two different liturgical years each are located in the period of time in which we await Christ's second time.

The themes of judgement and salvation over these next weeks are highlighted by the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, both of which occur during within last Sundays of ordinary time.

More on both of these next week.

Blessed to be serving at St.  Mary's,

   Bruce 

Beautiful Savior

I'd like to continue a thought from last week and say more about hymnody. 

Let's begin by taking a look at the fine print below our recessional hymn #200

(If you didn't read last week's article explaining the fine print, you can find it at www.stmarys.org. or on this blog.)

Beautiful Savior is a translation of the of the hymn Schonster Herr Jesu which was first found in a German hymnal in 1677.  The  name of the hymnal provides a few more clues as to it's origin.  Gesangbuch is the German word for hymnal and Munster is an area in north Germany.  (From which the cheese is named.)

The writer of the original German text is unknown and noted as anonymous.  The translation is attributed to a Lutheran pastor, theologian and author named Joseph A Seiss.  The text is derived from the third verse of psalm 45.  (Frankly, it took me a while to see this connection).

 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one 

clothe yourself with splendor and Majesty.

 St. Elizabeth, the hymn tune to which Seiss' translation is set is a folk-tune from the same general area.  Schlesische Volkslieder is a book of Silesian folk-tunes published  in Leipzig; the city where Bach lived and worked about 100 years previously.

You will notice a strong German influence in many of the hymns we sing.  One main reason is that in the years after the reformation the German church developed hymnody (four part singing congregational singing in the vernacular) as a  primary form of liturgical music.  On the other hand, the Roman church emphasized plainsong chant sung by the choir in Latin.  

Beautiful Savior and Now Thank We All Our God (the hymn I wrote about last week) are examples of German hymns translated into English.

Blest to be serving and singing at St. Mary's,

Bruce

P.S.

Beautiful Savior holds a special place for me as it was a staple at Wagner College where I sang in the choir and received my undergraduate degree.  While it's affiliation with the Lutheran Church was severed well before I arrived, Wagner retained many ties to it's beginnings as a Lutheran Seminary.  

Talking About Hymns

    

Pop Quiz:

1.  What is a hymn?

2.  Is every song we sing at church a hymn?

3.  What do you think of when you hear the word    

     "hymn?"

A google search will teach you more than I know (or care to know) about hymns.  Instead, let me explain it by:

    1.  Looking at the “fine print” found at the bottom of each song 

         printed in hymnals

    2.  Comparing a hymn with something that isn’t a hymn

*****

1.  The fine print

Take a look at the bottom of Now Thank We All Our God hymn #198 where it gives information about the “Text.”

67, 67, 66, 66:          This speaks to the meter of the stressed        

                                 syllables.  

                                 Count the syllables;

                                 Now thank we all our God (6)  

                                 With heart, and hands, and voic-es (7.)

Sirach 50:22-24      The songs’ scriptural reference

                                

           Now bless the God of all who everywere does great things, 

           who raises us up from our birth and deals mercifully with us.  

                                                                (Sirach 5:22) 

Martin Rinkart      

A scholar, chorister and future pastor who wrote the words.

Catherine Winkworth      

A British native who translated this and many hymns from German to English.

Here is what we learn about the music:

                                                                 

John Cruger         

A musical composer and hymnal editor who composed the hymn tune Nun Danket.

The name of the hymn tune is noted to the right of the title.  In this case, the tune derives its’ name from a literal translation of the first words of the original text, “Nun Danket Alle Gott.”

****

2.  Comparing a hymn to a song

The second way to learn about hymns is by comparing it to something that isn’t a hymn.  

Our communion song Miracle of Grace provides an excellent contrast.  In the interest of space I will let you compare the fine print on your own.

A quick glance at the music and a little attention paid when singing reveal several distinct distinctions that separate hymns from songs.   Hymns employ simple rhythmic patterns and notes that move stepwise up and down the scale.  Songs allow for greater intervals between pitches and more complex rhythms.  Miracle of Grace (#363) is very typical of contemporary church musical composition.

Now for the challenge question:    

4.  What is better? Hymns or songs?

Once again, a google search will tell you more than I care to know, read or think about.  Let me answer by saying; “I have been and continue to be intentional in picking and singing all verses of a hymn as our recessional song.”

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

October 2, 2016 - 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

In addition to my work at St. Mary’s I serve as the director of music for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at Montclair State University.    

John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) was an Anglican priest and convert to the Catholic faith.  Newman taught at Oxford and was a leader in the movement to return the Church of England to its’ Roman Catholic roots.  The Newman campus ministries are named after him because he saw a similarity of purpose between the Church and the University in that they both searched for universal truth.

I would describe Montclair chapter of Newman as an extremely active youth adult group/parish.  We have had many students go through the R.C.I.A. receiving the sacraments of baptism, first communion and confirmation.  Last summer the Montclair chapter of Newman Campus ministry was ranked #3 of the 1000’s of chapters on college campuses throughout the world.  This was based on the many social, spiritual and service activities they provide for the Montclair State community.  *

My 9 years of working with Newman has brought much joy and more than a few benefits which have directly impacted the music here at St. Mary’s.  I have been introduced to a new wave of contemporary church music that is finding its way into our hymnals.  One such sung is “Many and One” (#414) which we will sing at offertory.

The best benefit has been bringing some of these talented young adults to St. Mary’s.  You have seen and heard Apryl, Gabrianna and Aaron, who along with our senior cantor; John Luland help create beautiful music at liturgy.  Michael, who fills in from time to time now has his own church position.  These musicians are energetic, highly motivated and faithful Catholics who believe in what they sing.  Working with them keeps me fresh and challenges me to be on my toes.

One reason for my writing this is to affirm their work.  The other is to challenge each of us to be motivated by them.  I suspect there are more than a few reading are sitting on the sidelines and not sure about taking the chance to get more involved.  To you I say, “Think like a college student!”

Sleep is optional.  An empty calendar is an unhappy calendar.

Having things under control is highly over-rated!

·   Find out more about our Adult Choir, Children’s Choir and Guitar Group by e-mailing me at b.mauro1@yahoo.com

·       Consider joining us for the care kitchen on Saturday October 22 or the Crop-Walk on Sunday October 23^rd.

·         Take a look through these pages and find somewhere you can get involved

Don’t get left out!

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

*    The Archdiocese of Newark provides the Montclair chapter with a full-time priest,

      campus minister, administrative assistant and 4 FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic  

      University Students) missionaries. 

Trinity Sunday

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.   This is the second of three Solemnities which follow the Easter season:  Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and The Body and Blood of Christ.

Trinity Sunday presents an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the nature of God.  The belief in a triune God i.e God being three (tri) in one (une) unites Christians of varying faith traditions.

As is often the case, one can find out a great deal of what a people believe by reading the text of the hymns they sing.  Consider our entrance hymn “O God Almighty Father.” (#714) Each of the verses describe one person of the Holy Trinity.  As you sing, listen for various words used  to describe Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We speak and hear of the Trinity regularly in worship.  Many of us bless ourselves “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” as we enter the church.   In the introductory rites of the liturgy the priest begins with a similar invocation.   

Our scripture readings continue to speak of the Holy Spirit.  Note that today's gospel (found on page 174) took place prior to Pentecost.  (This explains why it speaks of Jesus promising to send the Holy Spirit.)

You will hear references to the Holy Spirit in today's music.  

We will again sing "Veni Sancte Spiritus" as the response to the prayer of the faIthful.  (For more on this, go to stmarysnutley.org and see last week's "liturgical notes.).   

We will also go from church singing "The Spirit Sends Us Forth." (#377)

                                                                      ***

It is also important to point out that the coming of the Spirit is not a one-time event.  As Christians we believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world today both in individuals, communities and in the church.

Over the past two weeks 14 adults and 80 teens received the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation.  We congratulate them and their families.

Come, Holy Spirit

 

Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday; when God fulfilled Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit.   

 

We hear the Pentecost story proclaimed in today’s first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles. (You can find this on page 170.)  What astounded all on this day the is described in the second paragraph of the story.  Though they are speaking a dialect of Aramaic, people of multiple nations and languages hear and understand the Apostles’ word.  This is like someone who speaks German or Cantonese understanding someone speaking a local dialect of Italian!  

 

It is interesting to view this story juxtaposed with the first reading proscribed for the Pentecost Vigil Liturgy: The Tower of Babel.  (You can find this on page 168.) In this story, people who originally spoke the same language now hear the words of others as babble.  A careful reading of the reveals the lesson:  the people are punished for the sin of pride.  

Here is an interesting math equation for those of you getting ready for the SAT’s: 

 

Holy Spirit = common language

---------------------------------

                                                                 pride = babble.

 

As director of music; my concerns lie in the top half of the equation.   I am constantly dreaming, choosing, critiquing and refining my music selections with the goal of developing a common language here at St. Mary’s.  I recognize this common language (or repertoire) is but a subset of the church’s language, which is a subset of the language of praise spoken and sung by all of God’s creation.

 

Today we will replace the “Hear Our Prayer” that we have been singing as our response to the prayer of the faithful with Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit.)

 

What makes this setting of the words unique is that it comes from an ecumenical monastery in Taize’, France.  Since the people who live in and visit from monastery come from many places and tongues, the majority of the music sung at Taize’ utilizes Latin:  The mother tongue of the church.  

 

All you need to do is to repeat what you hear.  For those who are visual learners the refrain is pronounced:  “Vay’-knee sonk-tay spee’-ree-toose.                                       

                                     PUT MUSIC HERE

 

As with all the music, I invite you to open the book, follow the words and let the Holy Spirit do what it will.

 

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary’s,

 

Bruce

 

Bruce Mauro

Touching the heart
With the joy of music & memories
(609) 558-1035
b.mauro1@yahoo.com